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Commonwealth Secretariat press release

Statement by Pacific Commonwealth Leaders on Zimbabwe

17 August 2002

Pacific Commonwealth leaders assembled in Suva, Fiji Islands, for the
Pacific Islands Forum, expressed deep concern at the deteriorating situation
in Zimbabwe. They regretted the fact that the Government of President Mugabe
had failed to respond to the calls of the international community to promote
national reconciliation and the rule of law. They recalled that the
Commonwealth had suspended Zimbabwe from its councils in March 2002,
following the report of the Commonwealth Observer Group on the flawed
presidential elections in that country.

Pacific Commonwealth leaders endorsed the continuing efforts of the troika
of Commonwealth leaders to seek to engage in constructive dialogue with the
Government of Zimbabwe and regretted that Zimbabwe had made little response
to date. They recommended further action by the Commonwealth should there be
no rapid change of approach by the Zimbabwe Government.

Leaders urged that the rule of law be restored in Zimbabwe, that the
dialogue between the political parties be resumed with a view to promote
national reconciliation and that political violence be brought to an end
forthwith. They recognised the critical need for land reform in Zimbabwe. At
the same time, they called for an end to the forced eviction of farmers and
urged that land resettlement be carried out in accordance with the plan put
forward by the United Nations Development Programme.

Note to Editors:
Heads of Government of Commonwealth Pacific Island Countries will meet for a
retreat at the Commonwealth Roundtable on Challenges of Democracy in the
Pacific, in Nandi, Fiji Islands on 19-20 August 2002. For more information
please contact Daniel Woolford on + 679 927 5823 or Ajoa Yeboah-Afari on
0795 732 4346
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